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JFAC gets General Fund update; approves commerce transfer, juvenile corrections and corrections management items
Summary
Budget staff reported a moving picture for FY2025–2026 balances. The committee approved a net-zero commerce program transfer and voted to fund juvenile corrections and several Department of Corrections management-service items; vote tallies and outcomes are listed below.
Legislative budget staff told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on March 7 that projected FY2025 ending balances and FY2026 revenue numbers are starting to take shape, and several departmental budget motions were approved by the committee.
General Fund overview: Keith Bybee, division manager for budget policy analysis, reported a projected FY2025 ending balance of about $442 million after recent adjustments and noted the Legislature had set FY2026 revenue at $6.4 billion for planning purposes. Bybee said some major tax bills had been enacted and others were still impacting projected appropriations.
Votes at a glance (committee actions taken March 7):
- Department of Commerce — Program transfer: Representative Handy moved (second by Senator Bjerke) a net-zero program transfer moving 1 FTP and $140,900 from the Commerce program to the Broadband Office program. The motion passed 20–0 (combined). Outcome: approved with due-pass recommendation.
- Department of Juvenile Corrections — Enhancements and IT modernization: Senator Wintrow moved (second by Representative Manwaring) to add $300,000 ongoing general fund for substance-use disorder residential treatment, add dedicated fund items totaling $757,600, move 7 FTEs into IT modernization (net-zero budgetary impact for personnel/operating) and include recommended IT replacement items. The motion passed by a combined vote of 15 ayes and 5 nays.
- Department of Corrections (management services) — Recidivism software, transparency software, IT replacements and a Northern Idaho SAUSA initiative: Senator Galloway moved (second by Representative Handy) a package including $1,000,000 for recidivism case management software, $668,100 for transparency software, IT replacement items and an $85,000 ongoing governor initiative for a special assistant U.S. attorney in Northern Idaho. The motion passed by a combined vote of 15 ayes and 5 nays.
Why it matters: Bybee's update framed the committee's remaining workload and revenue assumptions for FY2026. The department-level motions approved funding for public-safety and corrections technology projects, juvenile treatment services and broadband-related staffing adjustments.
Ending: Committee chairs said JFAC will not meet Monday and will resume work Tuesday with work group reports and additional budget items planned through the week as the Legislature finalizes FY2026 appropriations.
